Lower Timing Chain Blew-up!!!!!!!

sounds tme like the chain tension failed and with all the slack in her she wadded up at the crank and sheard the key as it is not a woodrift key its a plain square key. I would make sure they look closely at the teeth on the tensioner. These things fail and if your not lucky the valves get mangold. I hope the pistons did not crack. I swithed to the manual tensioner for the same reason. I would rather check and adjust the tension every month or two then trust something that has fail on a stock bike. This is not the only Triumph triple that has had the problem the 1050 used the same tensioner I believe and has the same issues. The ratchet teeth are just too small and weak on them. It gets worse when you switch to stronger springs and high lift cams.

+1on the cam chain tensioner. Bobby K had the same issue on his 05. Bent a bunch of valves.

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..so, is there a newer, safer, less prone to break set up available??..what would it consist of??..chain..tensioner..pulleys??..I might look into having mine replaced before problems occur..

Only tthree things can go wrong with the manual tensioner.
1 you change it out wrong jump a gear tooth on the crank and the bike loses some power but runs fine.
2 you do not adjust it right
3 you do not adjust it after the first set up and ignore it for to long.



I think APE has black ones for the Rocket in stock also.

Another paint can noise!

Ok. fellow Rocketeers, I have the same noise you have been talking about on my 2006 Rocket Classic! I bought the bike a little over a year ago. When I bought it, it had about 2100 miles on it. At about 5000 - 5500 miles, I took it in to have it checked. It now has 8900 miles on it. The Manager said it was carbon on the piston and didn't think I had anything to worry about! They put some kind of yamaha lubricant in the gas and said it might go away! YEAH, RIGHT!! Now I just joined the forum to hear the "Nightmares"!! Could anyone that has gone through this experience, give me some advice about making sure the dealer gets ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, AND MAKE TRIUMPH PAY PARTS AND LABOR FOR THEIR BLUNDER???? Thanks, Jim

I think that Warp 9.9 left out the fourth and most critical cause of failure. Some of the early (late '04-mid '07) lower cam chain tensioners were made from bad metal and they broke apart inside the motor casing (very not good). That is why it was made an integral part of the full "upgrade kit".

I wish you all the luck you'll need, to get this attended to on Triumph's dime at this late juncture, daddy rabbit. Since the lower cam chain tension adjuster is all the way at the bottom of the R3's motor, it is a big to do (read "$$$") to fix out of your own pocket.

Yeah!! What ever happened to "MAKING IT RIGHT"?? Thanks for your verbal support!

TriumPhil said:

I think that Warp 9.9 left out the fourth and most critical cause of failure. Some of the early (late '04-mid '07) lower cam chain tensioners were made from bad metal and they broke apart inside the motor casing (very not good). That is why it was made an integral part of the full "upgrade kit".

I wish you all the luck you'll need, to get this attended to on Triumph's dime at this late juncture, daddy rabbit. Since the lower cam chain tension adjuster is all the way at the bottom of the R3's motor, it is a big to do (read "$$$") to fix out of your own pocket.

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Hey Phil, you Polock there is only one chain tensioner on the Rocket and it is blow the exhaust cam. Maybe you were trying to refer to the cam chain guide which can break up once the chain tesioner fails and allows the chain to bash the guide until it fractures it. now the upgrade kit which is not a kit is actually an update kit and yes the chain and crank gear along witht he key come in the update kit. Now his is an 06 which means unless it was a late 05 motor it most likely has the aluminum guide on the tensioner side. this was changed in 06 to a black one with steel backing plates instead of cast aluminum. then since the problem did not get fixed Triumph for some reason went back to the brittle aluminum casting.

what I would like to know daddy rabit is basically yours is rattling if I understand you right. Which means nothing is broken yet. IMO you should get her fixed or not ride her as if it fails totally then you will have MR. Piston meet Mrs.Valve which can get very expensive. If you have any mechanical abilities the I would say you can do the job in about 4 hours. I have had mine open so much I can get her done quicker. I know Triunph allows 4 hours to the technicians. If you end up talking to Peter in Ga. Triumph USA then talk nicely and do not argue with him and you will get better results.
Its hard saying as your bike is 5 years old. I am not saying Triumph won't help you as they do help a lot on older bikes. More so then not depending how they are aproached. Make sur eyou have them install a tensioner out of a 2011 Roadster as I heard the teeth on the plunger and pawl are larger now. As soon as my new one arrives I will be able to compare the differences.

Thanks Warp! Do you have a number for Triumph USA and extention for Peter? Thanks for your understanding of my situation! Jim

Joining the club...

Hey all...well, I have an 05 RIII Classic with 7600 miles on it that has been stored on a stand but started periodically for the past 18 months...the last 3.5 years I've been deployed and the bike only came down a couple of times over that period. Sadly, I noticed a rough-feeling, almost a scrape, as if the starter was engaging while riding at low speed that is most prevalent around my right front foot peg...I now notice the infamous paint can rattle and can duplicate a sort of bearing squeal type noise rolling normally on throttle in 1/2nd gear between 13-2200 rpm. I'm certain it is the same culprit. I just tried rocking the bike back and forth in gear to kick the tensioner over a tooth (another site points to this as possible remedy), no joy. I've already spoke with Peter (James actually) in GA and explained what I hear, feel, and what I've read. I didn't get any promises and was informed that these sites are not endorsed by Triumph (why would they be-bunch of honest people posting honest problems?). Anyway, he said take it in, let the dealer look at it, and have them contact TC-hope it works out. I'm a wrench (Army helos) and half-tempted to do the work myself although my time is limited. I am filing a complaint with the NHTSA in the hopes that they recall this thing before someone gets hurt. There are a LOT of people out there that have had horrible troubles with this and thankfully have not been hurt yet. I am disheartened as I LOVE the bike and don't make a fortune to pay for maintenance. I was so excited to have it paid off, now I'm nervous...I've printed out pages from this and other sites hoping it will help with Triumph's decision to cover my out of warranty barely ridden $16K motorcycle....thank you all for the info.